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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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